Metal plinth-block.



No. 709,220. Patented Sept. l6, I902."

J. J. HOULIHAN.

METAL PLINTH BLOCK.

(Application filed Jan. 20, 1902.) (No Model.)

JIM/entom- Zdaua filo 7 cy Wieeaaeaw UNITED STATES "VA-TENT FFICE.

JOHN JAMES HOULIHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METAL PLlNTH-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 709,220, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN JAMES HOULIHAN,

of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Metal Plinth Blocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andtothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this pipe passes.

specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam or Water heatingsystems, and refers more specifically to a device adapted for use in connection with systems wherein the main supply-pipes or risers are embedded or concealed in the walls of the building in which the system is installed, said device extending across an opening in the wall through which the radiator feed-pipe extends and in position for the said feed-pipe to extend therethrough. Said device, which is termed a plinthblock, is constructed to provide an opening therein through which the radiator-pipe extends and which will permit shifting or moving of said pipe, due to contraction and expansion of the associated main pipe or riser, and which at the same time covers the opening in the wall through which the radiator- It is well known that in systems of this character when installed in tall buildings there is a considerable amount of vertical movement. of the risers, due to expansion and contraction thereof, and it has heretofore been a common practice to provide an elongated opening or slot in the wall or base-board of theroom through which the radiator-pipe extends in order to permit the necessary vertical movement of the radiatorpipe without danger of disruption of the Wall in the subsequent shifting of the radiatorpipe.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a device which is adapted to extend across the opening inthe wall or the baseboard through which the radiator-pipe extends and which device has an opening through which said pipe extends, which opening while permitting vertical movement of the feed-pipe is concealed and is closed, so as to prevent the passage of dust or vermin therethrongh.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a radiator and its feed-pipe and showing also a section of the vertical wall of a room in which the riser or main supplypipe is concealed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is alongitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the device with the pipe omitted. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

As shown in said drawings, A designates a main riser or supply-pipe of a steam or water heating system, which is concealed in the wall B of the building in which the system is installed; 0, a radiator in one of the rooms of the building, and D a feed-pipe which connects said main supply-pipe with the radiator, said feed-pipe D extending through a suitable opening in the wall B or the baseboard of the wall. E, Fig. 1, indicates as a whole my improved device, which extends across said opening and through which the feed-pipe D extends, said device being herein shown as set into the base-board B of the wall. Said device consists, essentially, of a flat plate E, Figs. 2 to 5, which is provided with a vertical slot or opening 6, and a movable plate F, Which is located in rear of the plate E and partially covers the slot e thereof and which movable plate is provided with an opening f, registering with said slot through which the feed-pipe D extends. Said plate F is herein shown as having sliding engagement with the plate E, and the plate E is provided at the rear surface thereof with guides engaged by the margins of the plate F, which confines said plate F and permits the same to move vertically with respect to the plate E. The plate F in the following description of the illustrated device is termed a slide, though it is obvious that its movement may be of a different character. The

Fig. 5.

vided with rearwardly-directed side flanges E E and a top flange E, which constitute in rear of said plate an inclosure or recess to receive the slide F, and the guide-lugs e are herein shown as made integral with said side flanges. The said side flanges E are provided at their rear margins with oppositelydirected attaching-flanges E and said atta'ching flanges are provided with slotted openings 6 through which are adapted to extend attaching-screwse as shown in Fig. 2.

The device is hereinshown as set into the base-board of the wall, said base-board being cut away to receive the device, and the outer surface of the plate E is shown as extending slightly in advance of the outer surface of the said base-board. The opening in the plate E is surrounded by a raised rib e to give finish thereto, and the exposed parts of the deviceto wit, the plate E and its flanges and the outer surface of the slide Fare preferably nickel-plated or otherwise finished to give a neat appearance to the device and finish to the wall of the room. The device may be attached in any suitable manner to the wall--as, for instance, to the plaster strip G, which are attached to the studding and to which the base-board is attached. As herein shown, the flanges E are attached to said strips and the rear face of the base-board is provided with rabbets to receive said flanges. The plate E may be otherwise fixed in placeas, forinstance, it may be attached to the floor.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing. In setting the device in place the plate E is so located as to allow maximum movement of the feed-pipe D in the contraction andcxpansion of the riser A Without contact of said pipe with the ends of the slotted opening 6 in said plate. The pipe D fits closely in the opening of the slide F, and the rising and falling of the pipe Dcauses the slide F to correspondingly rise and fall, and said slide is made of sufficient length as to close the slot 6 in all positions of the pipe. In this manner the slide F at all times covers the slot e in the plate E and prevents the exposure of the opening in the wall be manifest that by reason of the straight sides or contour of the device it is very easy to fit base-boards of Wood or marble or other style of finish. There will be no strain on branch pipe or base-boards, and all danger of damage to the latter or of breaking off the former is eliminated.

It is obvious that the exact shape and construction of the parts herein shown are not essential and that such construction may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1 do not, therefore, wish to be restricted to said construction excepting as hereinafter made the subject of specific claim.

I claim as my invention- The combination with a house-wall, a riser therein and a horizontal pipe which passes through an opening in the wall and is attached to the riser, of a hollow metal plinth-block which extends over the opening in the wall and is provided with a vertically-elongated slot through which the said horizontal pipe passes and with an inwardly-extending horizontal top flange and inwardly-extending vertical side flanges provided with marginal, laterallyextending attaching-flanges a movable plate mounted in the inner face of the plinth- 'block and provided with an aperture to receive said horizontal pipe, said plate being adapted to slide freely in a vertical direction on the plinth-block so that it may rise and fall with the said pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of January, A. D. 1902.

I JOHN JAMES HOULIHAN.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, WILLIAM L. HALL. 

